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The Dallas Mavericks wrapped up the 2026 China Games on Sunday with a 132-115 victory over the Houston Rockets, bouncing back from Friday's loss. While the game was merely preseason, it held special significance as the first opportunity to see Kyrie Irving on the court since he suffered a torn ACL in March 2025.
Several Mavericks players did not play: Dereck Lively II, Morez Johnson Jr., Santi Aldama, Marcus Sasser, and John Poulakidas. Only Poulakidas was not listed with an injury designation. Houston, meanwhile, rested Kevin Durant, Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Steven Adams, and Jae'Sean Tate, so the matchup did not provide a full-strength test for Dallas.
Nevertheless, any chance to watch Irving play is noteworthy. Here are two observations from the win.
Trio of Top Picks Impress
Dallas boasts three former No. 1 overall picks: Cooper Flagg, Kyrie Irving, and Zaccharie Risacher. Flagg was not as sharp as in earlier preseason games but still contributed 14 points (3-of-10 shooting, 7-of-8 free throws), 7 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 stocks. Irving, in his first NBA action in 19 months, tallied 17 points in about 22 minutes. He opened the scoring with a vintage layup, falling to the floor and quickly getting back up, and later showcased his magic by hitting a three from the logo after a tap-out with the shot clock winding down. The game's highlight came when Flagg made a chase-down block, and the ball was kicked ahead to Irving, who drilled a transition three from the left wing. Risacher, starting at shooting guard over Max Christie, added 16 points in 23 minutes. These are promising building blocks for the Mavericks.
Moussa Cisse's Roster Spot in Jeopardy
When Dallas re-signed Dwight Powell, the move signaled a genuine effort to clear a roster spot for him. Through two preseason games, it appears the team is leaning toward waiving Moussa Cisse. Powell logged nearly 15 minutes in this game compared to Cisse's 7, and Powell is simply the better player right now. Although Cisse, at 24, may have more long-term potential, he remains raw. A concerning sign was his team being out-rebounded during his limited minutes. The Mavericks matched the offer sheet Cisse signed with the New York Knicks this offseason, but cutting him now would not be shocking.
Dallas's next preseason game is Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans in Dallas.